Best Walking Shoes for High Arches

If you’re in a hurry and just want to find out what the best walking shoes for high arches are, then I recommend the Ryka Women’s Sky Walk Walking Shoe and the Skechers Sport Men’s Stamina Nuovo Cutback Lace-Up Sneaker.

Otherwise, let’s just appreciate the great outdoors for a moment… breathing in that fresh air and getting out walking.

What’s that, though? High arches? No problem, but if you enjoy regular hikes or spend a lot of time walking, the right footwear is important. Our feet are the foundation of our balance, so it’s worth investing in a quality pair. Protect your feet, and you’ll lessen the strain on your body.

Here are the current best walking shoes for high arches:

• Ryka Women’s Sky Walk Walking Shoe
• Skechers Sport Men’s Stamina Nuovo Cutback Lace-Up Sneaker
• Skechers Women’s D’Lites Memory Foam Lace-up Sneaker
• Saucony Men’s VERSAFOAM Cohesion 12 Shoes
• Merrell Women’s Siren Sport Q2 Walking Shoes

The Importance of Good Footwear 

Some might consider footwear as a form of stylistic impression rather than a means to prevent our feet from coming into contact with the floor. But there are many other reasons why good footwear is detrimental to our health:

Protects Your Joints

High-quality footwear comes with shock absorbers to prevent the shock from thudding against the ground shooting up to your joints. Shoes with plenty of cushioning reduce the chances of injuries to your feet, ankles, knees and more.

Prevents Back Problems

Did you know that a common cause of back pain is incorrect footwear? Proper shoes offer good alignment, which prevents backaches and pains. As your feet hit the ground, this pressure can transfer up to your back—causing stress from the impact.

Many soles offer insoles to cushion this blow. These insoles also move your foot into a neutral position, which prevents your posture from becoming unaligned, resulting in discomfort.

Adds Safety

Shoes are designed for an array of occasions. Specific to this article, walking shoes are designed with a durable outsole, helping them to remain intact as you transfer across different surfaces.

High-quality shoes are designed with lugs to add traction, which prevents you from slipping at the first sign of water. These also offer safety as you transfer through muddy situations and hike up hills.

Features to Consider With Walking Shoes 

Love to walk? Here’s a list of the most important features to consider when looking for the best walking shoes:

• Cushioned midsole.
• Breathable upper.
• Insoles.
• Durability.
• Fit.

Cushioned Midsole

The walking shoes should have gel, foam or air midsoles. These features reduce any impact as your foot makes contact with the ground. Further cushioning improves overall comfort, especially surrounding the arches.

Breathable Upper

No matter the temperatures you’re exposed to, walking shoes should have a breathable upper.

The most common material in the best shoes is mesh. This lightweight option offers excellent ventilation, allowing air to escape and a slight breeze to enter—keeping your feet from burning up.

Insoles

You’ll find walking shoes with removable and permanent insoles. The former makes them more hygienic and easier to keep your shoes clean and free. Either way, insoles provide an extra layer of padding and support your foot’s arch; this is essential for those with high arches.

Durability

Consider your walking environment. When walking, you’ll experience all kinds of weather and surfaces, so your shoes need to adhere to all. If you tend to hike up hills or walk through mud, it’s essential that your footwear can keep up with your situation.

Consider multidirectional lugs, which allow you to remain grounded when cruising through mud.

The traction is critical to your safety, too, so check the grip the shoes offer. Footwear with no grip will massively impair your safety.

Fit 

Finally, consider your foot size and width. Many of our findings are available in a wide and extra-wide fit, allowing the brand to cater to many. You should also consider the toe box offered, so your toes can move within the shoe.

Consider if you wear thick or thin shocks, as this will also affect the shoe size you choose. 

The Best Walking Shoes for High Arches

You might be confused with the number of features to consider. Or perhaps you’re overwhelmed with brands claiming to be the best for those with high arches.

To combat any bias, I’ve scoured the Internet for the top five selections while considering customer feedback.

1. Ryka Women’s Sky Walk Walking Shoe

These walking shoes feature a breathable mesh upper, making them ideal for keeping your feet cool while walking in hot weather. The upper is layered with a supportive leather overlay to ensure they’re durable and remain soft against your skin.

One of my favorite features of these shoes is the memory foam with a latex base. This prevents the sock liner from feeling compressed and provides support all day. Over time, the shoes adapt to suit your foot shape and size.

The rubber outsole makes these walking shoes durable. Plus, the multidirectional lugs make them great for walking on a range of surfaces and allows mud to fly off easily—preventing a buildup.

Most customers also love the extra support around the ankles. This is ideal if you often walk up steep hills, as you’ll require additional protection. They’re also designed with a flexible material, which helps them to adjust with every step you take.

The shoes are available in sizes 5 to 12.

Pros

• Variety of colors and styles.
• Suitable for those with long toes.
• Excellent value for money.
• Comfortable and stylish.

Cons

• Heavy compared to others on the list.
• Inside can become worn easily.

2. Skechers Sport Men’s Stamina Nuovo Cutback Lace-Up Sneaker

Skechers designed these walking shoes with a breathable mesh upper to prevent odors from forming and keep your feet cool in high temperatures. This material is also non-irritating, enabling you to wear these walking shoes without socks. Also, the padded tongue and collar contribute to comfort.

These walking shoes are lightweight and have a flexible response that bends with your foot. The thick sole and high arch support make them a particularly great choice for men with high arches. Plus, with a bouncy effect as you walk, it helps to prevent any pain in your heels.

Consider this a casual pair for men on the go, while being durable and cushioned, making them an excellent choice.

The shoes are available in sizes 6.5 to 16.

Pros

• Stylish and comfortable.
• Suitable for walking and running.
• Rubber outsole for durability.
• Mesh upper prevents laces from digging in.
• Lightweight.

Cons

• Colors appear different from online pictures.
• High platform might not be suitable for everyone.

3. Skechers Women’s D’Lites Memory Foam Lace-up Sneaker

Take your sneaker game to the next level with these stylish and creative sneakers. 

They’re designed with a rubber outsole, which makes them long-lasting. This also offers immense traction—preventing slips and falls when you’re walking. As a result, you can walk to your heart’s content in a variety of weather.

Designed with memory foam insoles, these shoes adjust to your feet—increasing comfort. The insoles are also air-cooled, helping to prevent odors from forming and eliminating any sweat and hot air from building up.

The thick midsole absorbs impacts, which is great for those on their feet all day. This feature also allows you to walk on rocky, uneven surfaces without feeling the pressure within your shoes.

Skechers also considered a padded collar for additional comfort. This prevents the laces from digging into your skin and allows you to wear the shoes for long periods.

These walking shoes are available in a variety of colors, all between sizes 5 and 11.

Pros

• Immense selection of colors.
• Available in a wide fit.
• Air-cooled memory foam insoles.
• Lightweight.
• Flexible sole.

Cons

• High platform isn’t ideal for everyone.
• Sole is too hard for some customers.

4. Saucony Men’s Versafoam Cohesion 12 Shoes

My favorite feature of this footwear is the supportive outlay. This stands taller than the other shoes on the list—helping to support your ankles as you walk. It’s also a beneficial feature if you don’t want to wear ankle socks.

Inside the shoe, you’ll come across foam cushioning. This protects the arches from injury as you walk on pavements. It also enhances the shoes by making them softer against your feet and adding a bounce effect to the footwear.

Designed with a durable outsole, these are an exceptional pair of shoes for walking long distances, in the rain or on hard surfaces. 

The shoes are available in sizes 7 to 14.

Pros

• Durable rubber outsole.
• Reasonably priced.
• Variety of colors.
• Available in a wide fit.
• Supportive upper overlays.

Cons

• Some customers reported they’re too narrow.
• Inflexible design at the front of the shoe.

5. Merrell Women’s Siren Sport Q2 Walking Shoes

Merrell designed these walking shoes with a leather and mesh upper, contributing to comfort and durability.

With a taller design than others on the list, these walking shoes offer more ankle support than many shoes I’ve seen. They’re also ideal for wearing with tall socks.

To ensure your feet remain stable, these walking shoes are equipped with heel-centering technology. This is an advanced feature for those with high arches to prevent any pronation. 

With an EVA contoured footbed, the shoes are highly cushioned. This allows your arches to remain protected and cradled—an essential feature for those with high arches. They’re also roomy in the toes, contributing to overall flexibility and comfort while eliminating cramps.

The shoes are available in sizes 5.5 to 11.

Pros

• Secure lacing system.
• Removable sock liner.
• Sturdy and long-lasting.
• Suitable for wearing on rocky terrain.

Cons

• No color choices.
• Sizes don’t start at 5.
• No wide-fit available.

The Verdict

From the above selections, I announce Ryka Women’s Sky Walk Walking Shoe as the winning walking shoe for high arches.

Firstly, this shoe is breathable—making it suitable to wear in a range of climates. Most significantly, these walking shoes feature a memory foam cushioning inside. Plus, you can wear the shoes on a variety of surfaces without feeling the impact on your feet.

I know the guys may prefer the style of the Saucony shoes, which are excellent, but my top pair for men go to the Skechers Nuovo Cutback. Skechers is heavily regarded for crafting supportive shoes, and with a huge range of colors to choose from and the exceptional support, I highly recommend these.